BURRILLVILLE, R.I. — Family owned Daniele Foods said Monday it will invest $50 million into an addition to the Burrillville factory where it produces Italian food products.

The Dukcevich family has been producing proscuitto, salami and other foods for more than 40 years in Burrillville, where it now employs about 300 people. Daniele is enjoying the benefits of Americans' expanding appetite for ethnic and specialty foods, spurred on by the popularity of the Food Network and its lineup of cooking shows and competitions, family members told The Journal.

The addition will double the size of an existing factory off Route 102 . Eventually, it will replace Daniele's first factory.

Governor Chafee and other government officials will join the family Tuesday morning at a groundbreaking ceremony.